Ontario reports lowest increase of COVID-19 cases since March 30

Public Health Ontario is reporting 287 new cases of COVID-19 this morning, which is the lowest daily increase reported by the province in nearly two months. 

The last time the province saw a lower daily case increase was March 30, when there were 260 new lab-confirmed cases reported. 

On May 10, the province reported 294 new cases. May 14, Ontario reported 258 new cases, but announced on May 15, there were 87 cases missed in the May 14 report, bringing the day's total up to 345. 

The province is coming off a seven-day streak of daily case increases from 390 to 460. 

In total, Ontario has reported 26,191 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Of those, 19,958 people have recovered (including 260 new recoveries reported today), which is about 76 per cent of the total number of cases. 

There have also been 2,123 deaths attributed to the virus, including 21 reported by the province today. 

The latest victims were nine people between the ages of 60 and 79, and 12 people over the age of 80. 

There are currently 848 people hospitalized in Ontario with COVID-19, including 143 people in intensive care and 113 patients on ventilators. 

Since yesterday’s report, there have been 9,875 tests completed, and there are 6,961 tests awaiting results. 

According to the provincial government, Ontario has the capacity to complete nearly 25,000 tests in a day. 

Premier Doug Ford said the province is rolling out a new testing strategy this week and anyone who wants a COVID-19 test will be able to get one, regardless of whether they have symptoms of the coronavirus. 

On April 30, the province reported more than 19,000 tests processed in a single day. 

For the week of May 3 to 9, daily testing ranged from 10,000 to 19,000 tests processed per day. 

For the week of May 10 to 16, the total ranged from 12,000 to 18,000 tests processed per day. 

Last week testing declined with a range of 5,800 to 11,000  tests processed per day between May 18 and 23. The report on May 17, noted there were 16,000 tests processed. This Sunday’s report, May 24, noted there were 11,000 tests processed. 

The Ministry of Long-Term Care reports there are 150 active outbreaks in long-term care homes in the province with 1,855 active cases in residents and 1,335 active cases in staff. The ministry has reported 1,538 deaths of residents and six staff deaths as a result of COVID-19. 

To date, there have been 65 confirmed cases. Of those, 56 are resolved and seven people have died. The health unit is following two known active cases of the virus. 

There has been no change in the Northern Ontario numbers since yesterday.

According to today's report, which includes data from Jan. 15 to May 25, the number of cases at other Northern Ontario health units, as well as the rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population are:

• Algoma Public Health - 20 cases, rate of 17.5 per 100,000 population (a 21st case has since been reported)

• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit - 25 cases, rate of 19.3 per 100,000 population

• Porcupine Health Unit - 65, rate of 77.9 per 100,000 population

• Public Health Sudbury and Districts - 62 cases, rate of 31.2 per 100,000 population

• Timiskaming Health Unit - 18 cases, rate of 55.1 per 100,000

• Thunder Bay District Health Unit - 81 cases, rate of 54 per 100,000 population

• Northwestern Health Unit - 22 cases, rate of 25.1  per 100,000 population

According to the report, in Northeastern Ontario, there have been 190 confirmed cases, and the rate is 34 per 100,000 population. In Northwestern Ontario, there have been 103 cases and a rate of 43.3. The provincial rate per 100,000 population is 176.2.